This album will be changing/updating all the time, but before you go shopping, take a peek!  Eating gluten-free can be pretty expensive, so stock up when you can and take advantage of sales!  I’ll also try to illustrate the best places to buy certain Celiac/gluten-free products or where to find some of my favorite gluten-free items!

For the latest deals, look here: Gluten-Free Deals Around Town

For where to buy certain gluten-free items, look here: Where To Buy Gluten-Free

(If you have trouble viewing my Facebook albums, please let me know!)

This album will be changing/updating all the time, but before you go shopping, take a peek!  Eating gluten-free can be pretty expensive, so stock up when you can and take advantage of sales!  I’ll also try to illustrate the best places to buy certain Celiac/gluten-free products or where to find some of my favorite gluten-free items!

For the latest deals, look here: Gluten-Free Deals Around Town

For where to buy certain gluten-free items, look here: Where To Buy Gluten-Free

(If you have trouble viewing my Facebook albums, please let me know!)

I just returned home from Save on Foods and I am munching out as I type.  The guilt and the pleasure is one of those “it hurts so good” feelings.  I know that tomorrow and most likely the next day I will pay for my sins, but what I just experienced at Save-on-foods was kind of worth that feeling.

When I started the Candida Cleanse I had an absurd thought “If I go sugar-free then Save-on-Foods may see that now nobody is the buying the gluten-free stuff.  What if they stop carrying it due to lack of sales?  Maybe I should continue to buy it and stock it for later, just in case.”   Clearly I think the world revolves around me and they have a gluten-free junk food section solely to accommodate me.

I walked through the junk food isle and went straight for my gluten-free section.  As I got closer I notice this guy around my age standing right in front of the gf goodies.  It caught me off guard because up until tonight I had never seen anyone even notice that section, even though it is right in the middle of the isle. Usually I am standing in there staring at my limited choices while everyone else has the entire isle to choose from.  As I grabbed my cookies I said, “you too hey?” he replied “yup, unfortunately.”   I knew nothing about this guy except for the fact that we had a similar struggle and that was enough for me feel a connection to this stranger.   My friend or foe meter instantly read “friend”.   I continued on shopping and went to the check out.  Coincidently he was standing in the shortest line and I ended up right behind him in the line up.

You know how when you are standing in line at the check out and you do a quick scan through the grocery items of the person in front of you and you judge them for what’s in their basket?  Well, just because my new friend was gluten-free I was not going to treat him any different.  I was going to find fault in his grocery choices just the way I do everyone else.  This was the first time ever that his basket looked almost identical to my basket.   Hallelujah, I’m not alone!  In my eyes he was the reason that the our special section didn’t have cob webs due to my absence there.  I struck up a conversation with him and he told me that both him and his sister had Celiac Disease.  I told him my brother had it and even though I had never been diagnosed with CD I was fairly certain I had it too, if nothing else I was definitely very hypersensitive to gluten.  He seemed to be as pleased as I was that he was not suffering alone.   I felt like I had so much to tell him and so much to ask him, I could have talked for hours.

I would never wish Celiac Disease on anyone, but I have to admit it is an incredible comforting to know I’m not alone in this battle and I am sure others feel the same way.   To know that sales of the gluten-free products were not based on my purchases alone was a relief.   I know that that fear was beyond ridiculous, but I couldn’t help feeling that way.  It only made sense since I had never seen anyone else buying it.

It was also a priceless feeling to know that he was actually diagnosed with Celiac disease by his doctor. The very few people I know with CD were self diagnosed as most doctors know very little about it and usually relate the symptoms to things like IBS, unexplained colitis, ext.  The fact that a doctor diagnosed him gives me hope that doctors may be becoming more aware of this disease that affects 1 in 133 people and 1 in 33 who have gluten intolerance.   It may be wishful thinking on my part, especially since only 1 in 4700 people actually get a diagnosis.   In a perfect world everyone who has the disease would be properly diagnosed.  What am I saying?  In a perfect world there would be no such thing as Celiac Disease.   With all that said I do believe it is up to us to figure out what is best for our bodies and we need to stop relaying on doctors diagnosis and relay on more on our bodies’ intuition.   Clearly I am just saying all this because misery loves company and if there are really that many people out there with the same problem as me I want them to be diagnosed for two reasons 1. I know how frustrating it can be to not know what is wrong with you and 2. because the more people properly diagnosed the less like an outcast I will feel.

Thanks for reading.  If you liked this post or know anyone that could relate please feel free to rate, comment or share or subscribe to this blog.

-Maria

Let me tell you a little bit about Mariposa: They are a gluten-free bakery in Oakland, CA (that ships their fantastic treats anywhere in the US) dedicated to making artisan-crafted, gluten-free goodies.

First of all, their brownies are HEAVENLY. I got the 1/2 dozen brownie set- filled with two Triple Chocolate Brownies, two Mocha Chocolate Brownies, and two Walnut Chocolate Brownies ($21.50 at Mariposa). And WOW!! They’re flaky on the outside and soft/chewy/fudgy on the inside… just like a brownie should be. All three brownie flavors are rich, delicious, and ridiculously chocolate-y. I think I like the Mocha brownie best, but all three are so good, I’m seriously conflicted.

I also think that I am full-on addicted now. Only a day later, I am running scarily low on my 1/2 dozen brownie set… If I could, I would inject these brownies straight into my vein.

These brownies are so incredible it’s hard to believe that they are gluten-free. If it didn’t say “GLUTEN-FREE/ WHEAT-FREE” all over the packaging, I would have sworn I just got contaminated.

Oh, and I am NOT lying, but I literally had dreams about eating more of their brownies after I had fallen asleep last night. So, yeah, I pretty much had another brownie for breakfast this morning. It was awesome.

Second of all, their packaging and presentation is fabulous. Often times, gluten-free products’ packaging looks so… how do I say this? …Cheesy? Scary? …Awkward and even un-edible?  It’s hard to find gluten-free products that look so pretty that you want to keep them out on your living room’s coffee table and offer them to non-gluten eating guests. Products are packaged in a simple brown box, tied with a pretty red bow, and can include a hand-written note on a tasteful Mariposa card. 

Mariposa is that kind of classy gluten-free company that not only tastes good, but looks good- with elegant wrapping and packaging that you can be proud of. Definitely the kind of product that we here at Glamour & Green Gluten-Free look for.

Third of all, they’ve got some brilliant gift sets and packages that really make them different than other GF bakeries. They offer 1/2 dozen brownie sets, 1 dozen brownie sets, brownies & coffee sets, biscotti and tea gift sets… and more! They make gorgeous (and delicious!) gifts that you can send to any goodie-lover for a birthday, celebration, holiday, or “just because”… whether they eat gluten-free or not! 

Mariposa’s coolest package? The Mariposa Month Club! Choose from Biscotti, Brownies, or a Gluten-Free Goodie Sampler for 3 months, 6 months, or 12 months! How rad would that be to get a package of delicious gluten-free treats delivered right to your doorstep every month?!! What a cool gift! These Mariposa Month Club Memberships would make a great present for your well-deserving mom, a special friend, or a favorite co-worker. Heck, they’d make a great gift for a much-deserving YOU! Send them to your office or to your house, and treat yourself to this fabulous monthly indulgence! Pamper your hardworking & fabulous self!

And finally, get a Mariposa DISCOUNT! For the month of March 2010, CALL Mariposa Bakery at: 510.595.0955 and place your order by phone. When you mention that you heard about Mariposa from the GLAMOUR AND GREEN GLUTEN FREE BLOG, you will receive 10% OFF your total purchase of any Mariposa gift set! This 10% discount is for orders placed by phone ONLY and will not apply to online orders.

With this special Glamour & Green Gluten-Free exclusive discount, this would be a great time to order a Mariposa gift set for yourself or for someone special in your life!

Well, that’s it for today.

Is it lunch time yet? Brownies sound good…

-Glamour & Green Gluten-Free